Transport container for transport of bicycle frames

ABSTRACT

A transport container for transport of bicycle frames ( 22 ) comprises an outer container ( 10,16 ). In the outer container ( 10,16 ), a receiving element ( 20 ) is arranged. The receiving element ( 20 ) is connected to fixing elements ( 50 ) for fixing the bicycle frame ( 22 ). By the provision of spacers ( 30,32 ), the bicycle frame is held at a distance from inner walls of the outer container ( 10,16 ), thus protecting the frame from damage during transport.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a transport container, particularly a transport box, for transport of bicycle frames.

2. Description of the Prior Art

With the aid of transport boxes, individual bicycle frames are transported, e.g. by parcel delivery services, to end consumers. For transportation, the bicycle frame is usually carried within a parallelepipedic cardboard box, wherein, for avoiding damage to the bicycle frame, it is necessary to cushion said box. This is performed, e.g., by filling the empty spaces within the box by bubble-wrap film sheets. Packing the bicycle frame in this manner is a time-consuming process. Also on the customer side, the unwrapping process will take extensive time because, initially, all of said bubble-wrap films or other protective elements which had been fixed e.g. by adhesive tapes have to be removed before the customer can finally get to see the bicycle frame bought by him/her. In so far, such a type of packing is not perceived to be adequate for a high-value product such as a bicycle frame. However, as of yet, the bothersome cushioning by bubble-wrap film sheets or other protective elements is absolutely necessary for avoidance of damage to the frame during transport.

It is an object of the invention to provide a transport container for transport of bicycle frames by which the bicycle frame can be safely transported while the expenditure for packing the bicycle frame is reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the above object is achieved by the features defined in claim 1.

The inventive transport container for bicycle frames comprises an outer container, particularly an outer box, in which a receiving element is arranged. Said receiving element serves for receiving the bicycle frame. For this purpose, the receiving element is provided with attached fixing elements for fixing the bicycle frame to the receiving element. Preferably, the bicycle frame will be fixed to the receiving element in such a manner that the whole bicycle frame will be supported by the receiving element. Further, according to the invention, spacers are provided. Said spacers are in abutment on the inner walls of the outer container as well as on the receiving element or the bicycle frame itself, so that the bicycle frame will be held at a distance from the inner walls of the outer container. Preferably, said distance is at least one centimeter. Thus, relative to the outer container, the bicycle frame is thus suspended within the box. Obtained thereby is an essential advantage of the invention, notably that the bicycle frame does not contact the inner walls of the outer container and, thus, forces or impacts acting on the outer container during transport will not be transmitted onto the bicycle frame. Providing bubble-wrap film sheets or other protective elements is not required anymore.

The transport container of the invention, i.e. particularly the outer container, as well as all elements—or parts of such elements—arranged in the outer container for receiving or fixing the bicycle frame, can be made of different dimensionally stable materials. For instance, it is possible to produce the individual component parts of the transport container of plastic which e.g. can have a honeycomb-like structure or inner structure so as to guarantee high stability. Further, the material can be provided in the form of foams, preferably highly densified foams. The use of plastic or foams has the advantage that the weight of the transport container will be relatively small while, nonetheless, a high stiffness is achieved. Further, it is possible to produce the individual component parts from carton or cardboard. Manufacturing the parts from carton or cardboard has the advantage that these materials are less expensive and are easily recyclable. Of course, the individual component parts of the transport container can also be produced from other materials.

The invention, inclusive of a preferred embodiment and modifications thereof, will be described hereunder with reference to elements produced from carton or cardboard wherein these elements, as mentioned above, can also be produced from other materials.

Preferably, said receiving element is designed or arranged in the outer box in such a manner that the receiving element cannot be shifted out of position within the outer box, not even during transportation. Thus, it is guaranteed that also the bicycle frame will not be shifted. Since, for packing the bicycle frame, the frame does not need to be wrapped with bubble-wrap film sheets but only has to be connected to the receiving element via said fixing elements, while the receiving element together with the frame can then be placed in the outer box, the expenditure for packing will be significantly reduced. Further, the inventive solution will offer the same safety as achieved when wrapping the bicycle frame in bubble-wrap film sheets. Particularly, by a preferably well-defined arrangement of the bicycle frame on the receiving element, also damage due to packaging errors will be reliably prevented. Such damage could also be caused by inadequate wrapping of bubble-wrap film sheets around the bicycle frame. A further advantage of the transport box of the invention resides in that the bicycle frame does not need to be wrapped in bubble-wrap film sheets and thus will be visible to the customer immediately after the outer box has been opened. Thereby, the aesthetic appearance of the packing is distinctly improved and corresponds to the high-valued image of the product.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, at least a part of said spacers are connected to the receiving element. Preferably, a part of the spacers are formed integrally with the receiving element, particularly in the form of flaps of the receiving element. The receiving element, as also the outer box, is preferably made from cardboard. The spacers are preferably formed in that edge portions of the receiving element will be folded or bent. By bending said edges by about 90°, it is effected that, in this region, the outer edges of the receiving element will be in abutment on an inner wall of the outer box. Thus, the spacers will act as a sort of spacer elements or feet when the receiving element is arranged in the outer box. Preferably, respective mutually confronting edges of the receiving element are bent into the same direction. In this case, at least two edges are preferably bent into opposite directions. Thus, in a four-sided receiving element, it is preferred that two edges are bent into one direction and two edges are bent into the other direction. Relative to the bicycle frame, two edges are oriented toward the side of the receiving element facing away from the bicycle frame, and two edges are oriented toward the frame side of the receiving element, if the frame substantially rests on one side of the receiving element.

Preferably, the receiving element, apart from said preferably bent edges, is formed as a plane-surfaced, flat box. Said box can be provided with frame recesses, wherein, preferably, a frame recess is provided in such a manner that a part of the frame rear structure can extend therethrough. In this manner, the thickness of the outer box can be reduced, which thickness will then have to be only slightly wider than the width of the rear structure on the dropout ends of the frame. Thereby, it is guaranteed that the dropout ends of the rear structure will not impact onto the inner walls of the outer box but, instead, will be located at a distance from these.

Said preferably a real receiving element has as an outer contour and a size corresponding to the inner contour of the outer box. Thus, the receiving element is in abutment on all side walls of the outer box so that the receiving element cannot slide out of position within the outer box.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the receiving element comprises a plurality of fixing-element receiving portions. These can be e.g. recesses into which the fixing elements can be fully or partially inserted. Due to the provision of a plurality of said fixing-element receiving portions, it is possible to arrange the fixing elements at different sites of the receiving element. The position of the fixing-element receiving portions is selected to the effect that frames of different sizes and/or types such as, e.g., frames of racing bicycles or mountain bikes, can be fixed on the same receiving element. For this purpose, one will only have to connect the fixing elements to the corresponding fixing-element receiving portions. By this arrangement, it is made possible to use the same receiving element for a large number of different frames, it being merely required to adapt the position of the fixing elements to the corresponding frame. Further, a given size of the outer box can now be useful for a large number of different frames because there will always be placed the same receiving element in the outer box. Optionally, there can also be provided a small number of different receiving elements so that, respectively, bicycle frames from different groups of bicycle frames can be fixed on the same receiving element. Preferably, however, all receiving elements have the same outer dimensions, allowing them to be arranged in the same outer box. There will thus be required only one size of outer boxes for packing all varieties of bicycle frames for transport.

Said fixing-element receiving portions can be formed by punching corresponding portions, e.g. of rectangular cross section, into the receiving element. For improved stiffness, it is possible to punch out the corresponding recesses only in such a manner that, for forming the recess, it is merely required to fold away flaps. Thus, said punching is preferably performed by applying U-shaped cuts.

Preferably, the individual fixing elements comprise a substantially parallelepipedic base body made of cardboard. According to a preferred embodiment, said base body is produced from a flat blank by folding. The fixing element preferably comprise at least one stopper element which can be connected to the base body by an adhesive connection. Alternatively, said stopper element can be a part of the preferably folded base body and thus be produced from the same blank. The stopper element serves for safe-guarding that the fixing element cannot be shifted fully through the fixing-element receiving portion. Thus, according to a particularly preferred embodiment, the fixing element protrudes on both sides of the preferably flat receiving element. On one side of the fixing element, the bicycle frame will be connected to the fixing element. This can be done, e.g., by means of a hook-and-loop fastener tape or similar means attached to the fixing element. On the opposite side, the fixing element preferably projects so far relative to the receiving element that, in the packaged state, it will be in abutment on an interior side of the outer box. The fixing element thus also serves as a spacer and preferably also as a stiffening element. As a result, possible impacts or similar influences acting on the box during transport will be absorbed. This will particularly reduce the danger that the outer box is getting dented.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the transport box of the invention, a cover of said outer box comprises a cover element adapted to be torn open. With the aid of corresponding tear-open elements such as e.g. perforation lines, tear-open strings and the like, the customer will thus be able to quickly open the transport box in a simple manner. It will not be necessary to remove or take down said cover completely.

The outer box is preferably of a configuration wherein one box portion comprises a base element which is surrounded by four side walls extending upward substantially vertically relative to the base element. Within these side walls, the receiving element will be arranged together with the bicycle frame. The box will be closed by a cover element which again comprises a base element and four side walls. As a result, double-walled side elements are formed, considerably increasing the stiffness of the box. With particular preference, at least one anti-theft protection device is provided on mutually overlapping side walls. Preferably, said two mutually abutting side walls are connected by said anti-theft protection device. The anti-theft protection device can be sealed, making it impossible to open the box without destroying the seal. Thereby, it is safeguarded that the customer can immediately check whether undesired manipulations were performed on the box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, enabling one of ordinary skill in the art to carry out the invention, is set forth in greater detail in the following description, including reference to the accompanying drawing in which

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a bicycle frame arranged in a transport box;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of the interior side of the cover;

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the non-folded receiving element;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the non-folded fixing element;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the fixing element;

FIG. 6 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a side wall of the box, viewed in the direction of arrow VII in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of an anti-theft protection device; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic lateral view of the anti-theft protection device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The transport box of the invention, provided for the transport of bicycle frames, has a trapezoidal contour when seen in plan view (FIGS. 1 and 2). The outer box comprises a cover 10 (FIG. 2). Cover 10 has a plane base face 12 connected to four side walls 14 arranged vertically to said base face 12. Also the base body of the box is configured corresponding to cover 10. Said base body, too, comprises a base face and four side walls 18 arranged vertically to the base face (FIG. 1). In FIG. 1, the base face of the box element 16 is not visible because it is hidden from view by a receiving element 20. Both said cover 10 and said basic box portion 16 are formed in one piece from cardboard. The side walls 14 and respectively 18 are formed by corresponding bending or folding, as is the usual practice in boxes made of cardboard. The inner dimensions of cover 10 are slightly larger than the outer dimensions of said basic box portion 16 so that the cover 10 can be mounted on the basic box portion 16 to the effect that the side walls 14,18 will abut each other. Formed thereby are double-walled side walls, resulting in a stiff outer box.

Said cover 10 can further be provided with tear-open elements 15 such as, e.g., a perforation or tear-open seams, or tear-open strings embedded into the cardboard, in order to allow for removal of a cover element arranged between the two tear-open elements 15.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, a receiving element 20 is arranged within said basic box portion 16, for fixing therein the frame 22 of a racing bicycle. As evident from the plan view shown in FIG. 1, said racing bicycle frame has on all sides a distance of optionally several centimeters from the inner walls 24 of the side walls 18. Since the cross section of the receiving element 20 substantially corresponds to the inner dimensions of basic box portion 16 and, further, the frame 22 is fixed on the receiving element 20, neither the frame 22 nor the receiving element 20 can be undesirably dislodged from their position during transport, thus avoiding at all times that the frame 22 might contact the inner walls 24.

FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the still non-folded blank of the box provided for forming the receiving element 20. The box has a plane base face 26 whose trapezoidal outer dimensions substantially correspond to the inner dimensions of basic box portion 16. Connected to all four sides 28 of said base face 26 are flaps 30,32. In this arrangement, the sides 28 form bending edges for bending said flaps 30,32 therealong. These flaps 30,32 act as spacers. In the illustrated embodiment, this is realized in that the mutually confronting flaps 30 will be bent, relative to the plane of the drawing, toward the rear and the also mutually confronting flaps 32 will be bent toward the front, in each case by about 90°. Since the bicycle frame is arranged on base face 26, the flaps or spacers 30 are facing away from the frame and respectively are arranged on the side of receiving element 20 facing away from the frame. In a corresponding manner, the two other flaps 32 are arranged on the side of the frame in relation to receiving element 20. The outer edges 34 of the flaps or spacers 30 are thus resting on the base surface (not visible in FIG. 1) of basic box portion 16. The edges 36 of the flaps or spacers 32 are in abutment with the inner side of the base face 12 of cover 10.

Because of the width of the flaps 30,32, the position of receiving element 20 within the outer box is well-defined. Thereby, it is safeguarded that, also in a lateral direction, the bicycle frame cannot move into abutment with the inner walls of the outer box, i.e. with the upper and lower sides of the basic box portion and the cover, respectively. Also a shifting of the frame in this direction is avoided since frame 22 is fixed to receiving element 20.

Base face 26 is provided with a frame recess 38 punched therefrom. Said frame recess 38 can be e.g. a through going opening through which a part of the rear structure of the bicycle frame will extend (see FIG. 1). Thus, a part of the rear structure of the bicycle frame is arranged, with regard to FIG. 1, on the rear side of receiving element 20.

Further, the receiving element 20 is provided, in its base face 26, with a plurality of fixing-element receiving portions 40. In the illustrated embodiment, all of said fixing-element receiving portions 40 realized in that, corresponding to the continuous lines 44, two substantially U-shaped cuts are provided. Formed thereby are two flaps 46 which can be folded over along the edges 48 marked by interrupted lines. In the illustrated embodiment, there is thus generated a rectangular opening for insertion of fixing elements 50 (FIG. 5). Depending on the size and shape of the bicycle frame to be connected to the receiving element 20, the different fixing elements 50 will be inserted into different fixing-element receiving portions 40.

Said fixing elements 50 comprise a base body 52 made from cardboard, which again is formed by folding a plane blank (FIG. 4). The face 54 forms the upper side of the substantially parallelepipedic base body 52. The faces 56 form the side faces. The narrow sides will be formed by the three overlapping elements 58,60. Then, for stabilization, the extension 62 will be folded inward, causing the lug 64 to engage the recess 66 formed in the upper side 54. Further connected to the plane base body are flaps 68 which will be connected to the side portions 56, preferably by an adhesive connection. Said flaps 68 serve as stopper elements. The stopping abutment herein is realized in that an upper side 70 of stopper element 68, which upper side corresponds to the thickness of the cardboard, will abut on the rear side of the base face 26 of receiving element 20 when the fixing elements 50 in FIG. 3 is inserted from the rear into the fixing-element receiving portions 40.

Further, the side portions 56 comprise openings 72 with a hook-and-loop type fastener tape 74 or another fastening means fitted therethrough. On said upper side 54, there is arranged—preferably attached by adhesion—a support element 76 made of a soft material, for protecting the bicycle frame from damage, particularly from scratching.

Thus, normally, for fixing the bicycle frame 22 to the receiving element 20, at least three fixing elements 50 will be fitted through the three fixing-element receiving portions 40 which are suited for the relevant frame size. This is performed in the direction of arrow 77 (FIG. 6) from a rear side of the base face 26 of receiving element 20. Subsequently, the bicycle frame will be laid onto said support elements 76 and be fixed in position with the aid of said hook-and-loop type fastener tapes 74. In a next step, the flaps or spacers 30,32 will be folded into the corresponding direction. Then, the receiving element 20 together with the frame can be placed into the basic box portion 16. As a result, the flaps 28 will rest on an inner side 78 (FIG. 6) of the basic box portion 16. Further, also the fixing elements 50, notably by the underside 80 of the side portions 56, will rest on said inner side 78. Since the flaps or spacers 30 relative to the spacers 28 are facing into the other direction, these are in abutment on the inner side of cover 10 in the closed state of the outer box. Thus, the position of receiving element 20 within outer box 10,16 is clearly defined. The receiving element cannot slide out of position in any direction. Thereby, contact between the frame 22 and any one of the inner sides of outer box 10,16 is avoided.

For anti-theft protection, a specially configured opening (FIGS. 7 and 8) is formed in the side walls 14,18. Into this opening, there will be inserted an anti-theft protection device 82, preferably made of plastic, which is shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. Said device 82 will be fastened by twisting. From the right-hand side in FIG. 8, the anti-theft protection device 82 will be fitted through the first cardboard layer 84 of side wall 18 so that a saucer-shaped element 86 will rest on the upper side of the second cardboard layer 88. The locking projections 92 arranged on the cylindrical connection element 90 of the anti-theft protection device 82 will be fitted through the opening of the inner cardboard layer 94 of side wall 14 and through the outer cardboard layer 96 of side wall 18. By twisting the anti-theft protection device in the direction of arrow 98, said locking projections 92 will be turned into positions between said cardboard layer 96 and the second cardboard layer 100 of the side wall. Thus, it will not be possible anymore to pull out the anti-theft protection device 82 toward the right-hand side in FIG. 8. The anti-theft protection device 82 would first have to be twisted back again. In the closed position of the anti-theft protection device, such a return twisting movement is prevented by a seal. This seal is fitted through the two eyelets 102 (FIG. 9) and extends into a recess 104 of cardboard layer 88. Further, the locking projections 92 are provided with locking lugs 106 adapted to engage recesses in cardboard layer 96.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow. It is therefore intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

1. A transport container, particularly a transport box, for transport of bicycle frames, said transport container comprising: an outer container, particularly an outer box, a receiving element arranged in said outer container, particularly said outer box, fixing elements connected to said receiving element, for fixing the bicycle frame to the receiving element, and spacers for holding the bicycle frame at a distance from inner walls.
 2. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein at least part of said spacers are connected to the receiving element and are particularly formed as flaps of the receiving element.
 3. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element is made of a plane-surfaced, shaped container, particularly a cardboard box, the edges of said container being at least partially bendable for forming said spacers.
 4. The transport container according to claim 3, wherein respective confronting edges are bent into the same direction and at least two edges are facing into opposite directions.
 5. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element comprises a frame recess, with a part of a rear structure of the bicycle frame extending through said frame recess.
 6. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein the receiving element comprises a plurality of fixing-element receiving portions for connection of fixing elements to the receiving element in different positions provided for different frame sizes and/or frame types.
 7. The transport container according to claim 6, wherein said fixing-element receiving portions are formed as recesses, particularly as pre-punched recesses.
 8. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein said fixing elements comprise a substantially parallelepipedic base body preferably made of cardboard.
 9. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein said fixing elements comprise stopper elements allowing the fixing elements to be inserted only partially through the fixing-element receiving portions.
 10. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein said fixing elements are additionally formed as spacers and are in abutment on an inner wall of said outer container, particularly said outer box.
 11. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein, on the side of the receiving element facing away from the frame, fixing elements inserted into said fixing-element receiving portions are arranged to project by a height corresponding to the distance between the inner side of said outer container, particularly said outer box, and the receiving element.
 12. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein a cover of said outer container, particularly said outer box, is provided with a tear-open element for tearing open a cover element.
 13. The transport container according to claim 1, wherein mutually overlapping side walls of said outer container, particularly said outer box, are connected to each other by an anti-theft protection device which preferably is sealed. 